Although I didn’t really love Melbourne, I have to say that I’m impressed with their public transport.
For one, I cannot find any signs that say “No eating or drinking; Fine $500.”
NOR do I hear stupid irritating messages being repeated over and over again to remind commuters not to litter/ stand behind the yellow line/ leave belongings unattended/ not to eat or drink etc etc…..
There is also lack of posters to remind commuters not to jump down to the tracks.
The train seats are fully cushioned for comfort and both stations and trains are really clean. I can hardly find litter at all.
Although the seats are facing each other, you seldom see people putting their feet on the opposite seat. (In fact, Nad scolded me when I did that *blush blush*).
When the door opens, nobody rushes in nor out. Even if it’s rush hour, no one pushes anyone. And, nobody would rush for the empty seats!
This only points to a few things:
1. Australians have more common sense to not to jump down to the train tracks nor stand so close to the edge that they may fall in accidently.
2. Australians LOVE their country and so, naturally, they would keep it clean without being reminded to.
We are allowed to eat and drink (in fact, they sell snacks and drinks at the stations) but yet people have the initiative to dump their litter at one of the nearest litter bins in the station. (Well I guess since we LACK that bit, we have no choice but to dump our litter around our own stations. *Shrug*. Too bad then.)
Seriously. People who say that Singapore has world class transport system have obviously not been out of Singapore. *Eyes rolling around*.
Why should I think so passionately about a country who has to REMIND her citizens not to litter? If citizens love their country, they wouldn’t even think of littering. It’s just like reminding your own sons and daughters to love you.
It doesn’t come from the bottom of their hearts then. They do it because they have to (or else they have to pay a fine).
This is not sad. This is Pathetic.
I also took the trams around the city area and although most of them were rickety rickety old, they were clean and efficient. Same can be said of their buses.
While it is true that their buses do not come as frequently, they have a schedule that is mounted at all bus-stops and their buses are usually on time. If they aren’t, the driver would apologise.
And oh…. I only saw one person being ‘caught’ for not paying the transport fees. And all I can say is, she wasn’t Australian. *Hint* Black hair, yellow skin. (Disclaimer: I’m sure there are some Aussies who don’t pay their fares but I just happen to see ONE non-aussie being caught, alright?)
I try not to be racist, alright, but as manzart mentioned, please PROVE that you deserve people looking up to you, rather than bitch and whine about us Singaporean Chinese forgetting our roots.
Opps…I digressed……
Well, that’s all for now. I have been diagnosed with intestinal infection and have to rest more.
Suffering from separation anxiety from Nad this time round. (-___-”)
